Double spark-ignition system



Oct. 27, 1925. 1,559,411

F. M. ESPINOSA 1 DOUBLE SPARK IGNITION SYSTEM Filed Dec. 5. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet I WITNESS:

ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1925- F. M. ESPINOSA DOUBLE SPARK IGNITION SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5. 1923 I EMEfipznmmSg q @11 192W A'ITORNEY Oct. 27, 1925- 1,559,411

F. M. ESPINOSA DOUBLE SPARK IGNITION SYSTEM Filed Dec. 5. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

umT D S'LATES PATENT OFFICE snn'nauno m. nsrmosn, or sucnrro ro; SALVADOR.

DOUBLE SPARK-IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application filed December 5, 1923 Serial No. 678,745.

This invention relates to' ignition systemsfor internal combustion engines of all kinds, and has for its object the provision of a system and apparatus in connection with which every cylinder of the engine is equipped with two separate spark plugs, the plugs of one set receivin current .fggom one source, and

' the plugs 0 the other-set receiving current from an entirely distinct and separate source so that in case-of failure of one system the other will stilloperate so that the engine will not stalk.

An important and morespecific object is the provision of an extension tube to be screwed into the. spark plug hole of the cylinder in place of the spark plug, the tube being so formed as to have two plugs screwed thereinto,-the use of two plugs not only insuring ignition ofthe charge but giving water cooled engines all the advantages of air cooled ones without any of the usual disadvantages thereof, .the device having the additional advantage .of doing the same work as the hot spot in some types of engines and helping to gasify the charge without heating all of the charge and the engine.

As it is absolutely essential that the two I sparks be synchronized another object is to provide a visible test device located preferably upon'the instrument board and including a gap for each spark plug whereby these gaps will act as spark intensiliers and also as means for detecting failure of a. spark in addition to serving the purpose; of permitting visible inspection to ascertain whether the spark of each set of plugs are simultaneous.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram of an engine equipped with my system,

Figure 2 is a detail section through one form of extension tube,

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are similar views of modifications,

Figure 6 is a Figure 7 is a vertical section therethrough, Figure 8 is a vertical section through a modification and Figure 9 is a horizontal section therethrough on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Fig. 10 shows a sight tube tobe used with the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

face view of the test device,

' Referring more particularly to the drawings the letter A designates an internal com- .bustion engine having the usual cylinders B formed with spark plug receiving holes C. D indicates a high tension magneto which constitutes one source of current, E represents a battery, F a series of four vibrator coils of well known type and G represents a timer or distributor. In carrying out my invention I provide an extension tube adapted to be screwed into the spark plug hole C of each cylinder, this extension tube being capable of considerable variation in the shape and size. In Figure 2 this extension tube 10 is shown as consisting of a T-shaped body having the vertical branch 11 externally threaded at 12 for engagement within the spark plug hole and having its other branches 13 internally threaded to receive two spark plugs P. The extension tube 14 shown in Figure 3 is the same in general design except that it is Y-shaped, the

plugs P and P diverging upwardly in 1nclined relation. In Figure 4 the extension tube 15 is of still different shape with thebranches 16 so arranged that the plugs P and P will extend vertically and in parallelrelation, while in Figure 5 the body 17 has its branches 18 inclined downwardly and outwardly so that the plugs will be disposed substantially opposite to the arrangement shown in Figure 3.

In connection with these two sets of plugs, I make use of a test device designated broad 1y by the letter T, which test device is shown as consisting of a body 19 suitably secured upon the dash, instrument board or other desired. location and carrying lower terminals 20 and 21' and upper terminals 22 and 23 arranged as shown. Carried by the base 19 are extensions 24 between which are held glass tubes 25 into which extend contacts 26 connected with the respective terminals and arranged to provide a gap 27.

have their terminals 31 connected with the timer G by wires 32 in the usual manner. Connected with the high tension terminals 33 of the coils are wires 34 which are connected with the lower terminals 20 of the test device. Leading from the corresponding upper terminals 22 are wires 35 which are connected with the spark plugs P; This constitutes an entirely distinct and separate ignition system and it will be observed that either one or the other may be used alone if such should become necessary on account of failure of the other.

In the operation it will of course be seen that the current will jump the gaps 27 in the glass tubes 25 and may be easily seen. The sparks between the contacts connected with the terminals 20 and 22 should'be simultaneous or synchroneous with the sparks between the contacts associatedwith the terminals 21 and 23 in order that both spark plugs will fire at the same time. If, after hooking up the system, it\ should be discovered that there is a lag iit one spark, the distributor must be adjusted to advance. or retard the spark so that there will be absolute synchronism in the two sets of gaps. In addition to serving this purpose, the test device acts a fault finder inasmuch as a dead plug or broken wire will be evidenced by a failure of the spark in one of the sight tubes and the operator may then easily ascertain which cylinder is not firing or which plug is dead and make the necessary repairs or adjustments.

In Figures 3 and 9 I have shown a modification of the test device. In this form the base 40 has extending therethrough upper and lower terminals 41 and 42 extending through suitable insulating sleeves 43 and equipped at one end with binding nuts 44. The other ends of these terminals carry clips 45 and 46 within which is detachably engageda sight tube 47 bound at its ends with metal ferrules 48 and 49 frictionally engaged within the clips 45 and 46 respectively. Each sight tube contains contacts 50 and 51 connected with the ferrules 48 and 49 respectively and arranged to have a any defects to be discovered and corrected so that the engine may be kept properly supplied with ignition current.

\Vhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not. depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine, a duplex ignition system including the use of two sets of plugs, an ignition system for supplying current to one setof plugs, an ignition system for supplying current to the other set of plugs and a test device interposed in the circuit of both systems and including auxiliary gaps operating to give a visible indication whereby to facilitate synchronizing the sparks of both systems.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a duplex ignition system embodying two sets of spark plugs, separateignition systems of difl'erent types for supplying current to the respective sets of plugs, and a plurality of test devices interposed in the connections to all the plugs and located adjacent one another whereby to give a visible indication as to the time of occurrence of the sparks produced by the separate systems and thereby facilitate synchronizing the separate sparks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FERNANDO M. ESPINOSA.

"vice has the further advantage of enabling 

